Damn, my chums have good lines!

Never piss on a sunset while you’re waiting for the moon.
--the Cunning Runt

You can see (and read) what he's talking about here.
--the BB

"Still Broken" by A. J. Rossmiller

A. J. Rossmiller, a former Defense Intelligence Agency Iraq analyst who now writes at Americablog and other sites, has written a new book, Still Broken.

Here is one paragraph in a section where his group learns they are not expected to uncover anything actionable (i.e., just be governmental wankers 'cause we don't know what the feck we're doing or supposed to do):

It became apparent that our assignment was not the counterinsurgency mission we’d anticipated. To some extent we were set up as a new and unique group from DIA. Our leadership told us that we were the largest cohesive DIA group to deploy to Iraq, as previous volunteers had been sent to fill individual slots in a wide variety of operations. We were supposed to be the connection between the field and the DIA element in DC, and we had just spent months learning about the history of the insurgency, beneficial and ineffective COIN techniques, and the intricacies of Iraqi tribes, religious groups, militias, and political organizations. This knowledge was supposed to make us a crack team of area experts, able to assist action units in the front and support the Iraq team in the rear (back in Washington). We were geared up to apply social network theory, create a better understanding of the insurgency and its accelerants, use a variety of analytical tools that would help identify insurgents and pinpoint the most crucial members of various groups, and employ our strategic acumen to assist policymakers. We were the heavy hitters, DIA’s contribution to the Combined Intelligence Operations Center or CIOC (pronounced sy-ock) -- the hub for U.S. intelligence in Iraq. But when we settled in, we realized that there was basically no mission for us. . . .

I have enjoyed Alex's reporting on many issues. Here's hoping lots of peeps read his book.

Still Broken: A Recruit's Inside Account of Intelligence Failures, from Baghdad to the Pentagon

[Click the link immediately above to find the book on Amazon.]

Wake up, America. The emperor has no clothes.
--the BB

Happy Wyldday!

Bloggers welcome one of their own back home. Wyldth1ng, our blogging Marine, is back stateside and we are celebrating. Send him some love, Americans!

You can love the troops and hate war. This site honors those who serve our country in the military.

Welcome back, Wyld! All the best to you.

Diane and Scout welcome him back here. Fran does here. Diane has links to others who join in the welcome party.
--the BB

Solidarity with a deacon friend

Deacon Ormonde Plater faces a tough patch. Send some love and prayers his way.

I have learned so much from this man, on many different levels, that I don't know how to thank him except being a faithful servant of Christ where I am.
--the BB

Beware flying toilet seats

Pearls Before Swine by Stephen Pastis

Rat is one sick critter, which may be why I am amused by him. This is a little reminder not to get caught up in one's own inflated fantasies.

Actually, it was Over the Hedge that recently ran an inflated fantasy series. But that's another story.

Meanwhile, back on earth, my current contract assignment comes to an end this Friday and I am looking for work again. Prayers gratefully accepted.

Not every day one can use a post title like that, eh?
--the BB

Not that pure and def not that young

This is not a young blogger.

The BB in Ploshchad Ostrovskovo, St Petersburg,

in front of the Statue of Katherine the Lawgiver

The choices were too narrow, not allowing for all the answers that lie between them. Anyway, while I'm being silly and taking quizzes....





h/t to Pseudopiskie, who scored the same
--the BB